Virginia B Whetten

Virginia B. Whetten passed away at 96 in Mesa AZ. She was born on June 19, 1926 in Eagar AZ, the youngest daughter of Jay & Jessie Burgess. When she was young, she sewed her own dresses, saved ration coupons for shoes, organized parties in high school, played the piano for a traveling dance band, and eventually attended business school in Phoenix. She met a cowboy named Jay Whetten in 1947, they married in 1949 and she began a ranching life in Chihuahua, Mexico. They raised 4 children: Jessie Larson (David) of Mesa AZ, Jay (Jennifer) of Bonita AZ, Karene Whetten (Marvin) of Colonia Juarez, Mexico, and Mark (Alison) of Newkirk NM.

She liked:

Planning ahead

Winning at cards

Studying the scriptures

Dancing all night

Cultivating friendships

Laughing and having fun

Reorganizing her spaces

Dressing up

Going for a drive

Reading histories and biographies

Feeding a crowd

Having a special way of doing chores

Designing quilts

She loved hard workers, big parties, poems that rhyme, gardens, cut flowers, small children, built-in shelves, good dogs, apple pie, beef, bread crusts, hot chiles, fresh ice cream, and kindred spirits.

She hated the thought of running out of food. It could never happen: not at a dinner, not in the cellar, never at a party.

She was grateful for her upbringing, her happy marriage of 62 years, her many adventures and the love of her children, her 17 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren. She often wondered why she lived so long, and renewed herself in new experiences, new friendships, new projects and new fun. Her family misses her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Karene and son-in-law Marvin.

Funeral services are Friday, May 19, 2023 at 2pm, preceded by a visitation at 1pm, at 3345 E. McLellan Rd in Mesa AZ. Those not able to attend may watch the service on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/99372204837?pwd=REdwK1RseG40enl5aEVhdXpuZ1d0QT09.

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.